Accepting and Protecting Our Transgender Community

Summary

The ACLU and Human Rights Commission are reporting a record number of anti-trans bills

proposed in the United States for the fourth consecutive year, with almost 600 in 2024 alone.

Combined with an increase in reported hate crimes and discrimination targeting the trans

community, there has never been a more critical time to educate the public and encourage

allyship.

In this conversation, Heather welcomes three extraordinary guests: Jeannie Gainsburg, Jayna Sheats, and Kate Brooks to discuss their motivations for writing their books and the importance of allyship and pronouns. Kate wrote her book to provide support and affirmation for parents of transgender children, Jeannie wrote her book to guide allies in supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and Jayna wrote her novel to humanize the transgender experience. They emphasize the need for allies to create safe spaces and educate themselves about gender identity. They also discuss the importance of using correct pronouns and normalizing the practice of sharing pronouns. The conversation covers various topics related to allyship, the upcoming election, and parenting LGBTQ+ teens. They all share personal stories and provide practical tips for taking action and supporting transgender individuals.

Takeaways

• Writing books that provide support and affirmation for transgender individuals and their families is important in creating a more inclusive society.
• Allyship is crucial in supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and allies can create safe spaces and educate themselves about gender identity.
• Using correct pronouns and normalizing the practice of sharing pronouns is a respectful and inclusive action.
• Transgender youth face unique challenges, and allyship and affirmation from parents and society can greatly impact their well-being.
• Humanizing the transgender experience through storytelling can help mitigate fear and hate towards the community. Showing allyship can be done in various ways, such as using correct pronouns and providing support and advice to others.
• Practical actions for the upcoming election include participating in postcard campaigns and sharing information through writing and speaking.
• Acceptance and affirmation are crucial for transgender children, and parents should believe and support their child's gender identity.
• Practicing pronouns and using the 'switch it' technique can help improve gender inclusivity in language.
• The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the stakes of the election and the potential impact on the LGBTQ+ community.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Motivations for Writing Books

07:51 The Importance of Allyship and Safe Spaces

21:31 Respecting Pronouns and Normalizing Pronoun Sharing

28:19 The Power of Pronouns and Allyship

30:41 Taking Action in the Upcoming Election

41:47 Supporting Transgender Children: Acceptance and Affirmation

47:58 Practical Tips for Gender Inclusive Language

50:35 Understanding the Stakes: The Impact of the Election on the LGBTQ+ Community

Bios

Authors/Activists/Mothers Jayna Sheats, a trans woman, Jeannie Gainsburg, an LGBTQ+ ally,

and Kate Brookes, parent of a trans teenager, are teaming up to share their message of

acceptance and increase understanding of the issues facing the trans community. Sheats,

Gainsburg, and Brookes say anger and hate often disguise fear of the trans community. By

sharing their stories and offering best-practice tips for support, they hope to counter the

discrimination, help humanize the trans experience, and encourage all people to become allies.

Jayna Sheats (she/her) is the author of Hanna’s Ascent. She is also a noted chemist and

entrepreneur, wh